Card clasp



Nov. 27,1928. 9 1,693,098

. G. H. TAYLOR CARD CLASP Filed Aug. 26, 1927 ACT.- 1.

tateiiteel Nov. Z7, 1928.

n siren sirkiss `GEORGE H. TAYLOR, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

CARD CLASP.

Application led August 2G, 1927.

This invention relates to a card clasp7 and particularly to a releasable holder adapted to support a card or similar article from a shank or handle member.

ln previous constructions for this purpose it has been necessary to force the card into the clasp against the spring tension thereof which tore and mutilated the edge of the card so as to prevent its continued use7 for instance in a price card systemk for which the present invention is especially designed. Further, in the use of a wire clasp thereV is not sufiicient base to support the card lagainst rocking or tilting movement, while the usual clamping jaws are not of proper area to retain assembled cards in ,their .proper relation -as the price unit is held by the clasp. lt is also very desirable to avoid any construction requiring both `hands of the operator for opening the clasp, and to provide a form where the clasp may be opened by one hand while the card is inserted therein by the other hand.

"ilo avoid these objections I have provided a flat metal Vstructure 4comprising an elongated shank having at its upper end a broad lined jaw from which a loop portion forms a. supporting base for 'a 4card and is bent upwardly to form a. movable aw which terminates in an outwardly projected operating plate. These jaws are normally inclined to a vertical plane when the shank is inserted in a. container, such as a basket, box or barrel, but inward pressure upon the operating plate opens the movable jaw and brings the loop into a vertical plane parallel to the shank which permits the most convenient application or insertion of the card. Upon release of pressure this loop automatically assumes its inclined position and the operating end of the movable jaw is alined with the shank to permit the application of opening pressure by two fingers of the operators hand.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction of card clasp provided with a shank having a fixed jaw at its upper end and a broad downwardly looped portion for a card seat and having a movable jaw opposite the fixed jaw and terminating in a depending operating plate parallel to the shank.

A further object of the invention is to form the clasp of a single piece of flat spring metal comprising an elongated shank having a fixed jaw and a downward loop with an opposite movable jaw terminating in an out- Seral No. 215,587.

wardly deflected operating plate parallel with VJthe shank, whereby pressure upon said plateseparatesthe jaws and changes the position of the loop relative to the shank to ,permitconvenient insertion of a card.

Another object of the 'invention is to `present an improved clasp having a shank formed of flat material with its upper portion bent into a -U-shaped loop provided with rebent jaws engaging .the loop and then deflected therefrom to form a shank and oppo site operating plate.

@ther and further objects and advantages of the invent-ion will be yhereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof delined by the appended claims.

In the'drawing .Figure 1 is a perspective ofthe invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation'tliereof.;

Figure 3 is a ldetail y'section of the clasp opened; j

Fig-ure 4 is a section on line Ll-ll of Figure 2; and y Figure 5 is zan elevation of a modified application of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

This invention is adapted for a wide lield of application and in the form shown in Figures 1 to i the numeral 10 designates an elongated shank which may be of any desired size or configuration and forms the support or handle for the clasp at its upper end. This clasp comprises the i'iXed jaw 11 formed of flat material bent upon itself and downwardly into the loop 12 which at its lower portion provides a fiat wide support 13 to prevent tilting of the rcard 14 resting thereon.

The movable aw 15 extends upward from this support and is bent upon itself to form an outwardly projecting operating plate 16 disposed in alinement with the shank held by one linger when depressing the plate by l another finger to open the jaw. Each of the The card retained by the clasp may be ot any desired character and is shown in Figure 1 as comprising the base card 14 having a lug 21 which overlaps the interlocked price cards 22 formed in accordance with my Patent No. 1,529,968 dated March 17, 1925. When used in this connection the clasp jaws clamp the cards in position and retain the price unit against accidental displacement.

Instead supporting the price unit inentioned the clasp may be used to retain an enlarged card, such as a tan 23 shown in Figure 5, which is clamped by the clasp Q11 constructed as before described, while the shank 25 comprises a handle portion. This is very convenient for theater programs which require chinging` at intervals as new cards may be quickly applied to the clasp and avoid the expense and delay ot providing an entirely new lan for each change or program to be printed thereon.

It will be seen that the invention presents a simple, ellicient and economically produced article oit manufacture adapted to be bent from a single piece olf material. The clasp provides a wide base to support a card and firm clamping jaws parallel thereto which rigidly retain the card but permit its removal and insertion without damage by opening the Jaws.

The specilie construction of the clasp has been herein shown and described but kthe invention is not conlined thereto as changes and alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as recited in the following claims.

W hat I claim is 1. A card clasp comprising a straight elongated shank having a rebent upper end contacting with the shank to orrn a fixed aw, a substantially parallel portion bent upwardly from the base ot the fixed jaw to Jform a movable jaw, and an operating plate extended downwardly and outwardly from the upper end oi? the movable jaw, the upper ends ot both jaws being deflected outwardly in opposite directions to provide a curved inserting guide.

2. fr card clasp comprising an upright elongated shank having a. rebent upper end contactingv with the shank to form a lixed jaw, a substantially parallel looped portion bent upwardly from the base ot the lined jaw to jorm a movable jaw, and an operating plate extended downwardly and. outwardly trom the upper end of the movable jaw, said looped portion being bodily deflected outward at an angle tothe shank.

3. i card clasp formed ot a single piece of dat spring metal comprising an elongated upright shank having a rearward bend at its upper portion forming a lined aw which is deflected at an angle to the shank, a loop portion depending Jrrom saidbend with substantially yparallel walls, the outer of which is provided with a. bend at its upper edge to form an outwardly deflected movable aw, and a plate projected outward from the last mentioned bend to produce an operating ineniber, said loop portion being bodily deflected at an angle to the shank.

ln testimony whereof l aiiiX my signature.

GEORGE H. TAYLOR. 

